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finesse
[ fi-ness ]
noun
- extreme delicacy or subtlety in action, performance, skill, discrimination, taste, etc.
Synonyms: sensibility, sensitivity, circumspection, diplomacy, tact
- skill in handling a difficult or highly sensitive situation; adroit and artful management:
exceptional diplomatic finesse.
Synonyms: sensibility, sensitivity, circumspection, diplomacy, tact
- a trick, artifice, or stratagem.
- Bridge, Whist. an attempt to win a trick with a card while holding a higher card not in sequence with it, in the hope that the card or cards between will not be played.
verb (used without object)
- to use finesse or artifice.
- to make a finesse at cards.
verb (used with object)
- to bring about by finesse or artifice.
- to avoid; circumvent.
- to make a finesse with (a card).
- to force the playing of (a card) by a finesse.
finesse
/ fɪˈnɛs /
noun
- elegant skill in style or performance
- subtlety and tact in handling difficult situations
- bridge whist an attempt to win a trick when opponents hold a high card in the suit led by playing a lower card, hoping the opponent who has already played holds the missing card
- a trick, artifice, or strategy
verb
- to manage or bring about with finesse
- to play (a card) as a finesse
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of finesse1
Example Sentences
With three easy-to-adjust focusing distances, this camera can capture close-up portraits of friends hanging around the campfire, medium-range objects between three and six feet away, and long-range landscape photos with equal finesse.
One of the best surfers to grace the sport, Gilmore, like Florence, is blessed with an uncanny ability to surf with the same level of power and finesse, no matter how big or small the waves.
If you’re starting from square one, however, you’ll likely want to take advantage of its auto-leveling and equalization, which requires a few more connections, a handful of software installations, and just a bit of finesse.
Carter is at his best causing havoc in front of the net, a perfect complement to the finesse game of Sidney Crosby and another net-front presence to take some of the pressure off Jake Guentzel.
As with any move that relies on some sort of finesse, there’s a fine line between punishing opponents and bailing them out.
He affected an anchorman finesse in apologizing for “past mistakes” as a Ku Klux Klan leader.
The best whiskies are made with finesse and the same attention to detail and mindfulness as the finest teas or sushi.
A lot of Republican candidates are trying to finesse the establishment-Tea Party Maginot Line and be both things to all people.
Whereas the first three seasons were subtle, there is a decided lack of finesse here.
Phoenix conveys the ambiguities of his character with great finesse.
The same game of finesse was played at his own table; for there De Patinos had for some time assumed an air of civility.
Yet the word vagrant is a misnomer in this city, where economy has reached a finesse that is marvelous.
His action was simply the action of a strong, business-like, and patriotic man, forgetful of finesse.
A servant full of finesse and irreproachable in appearance, he was of the greatest service to his master.
With much finesse Duret showed this young woman the character of M. de la Baudraye in its true light.
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